To be AND not to be
May 29, 2025 - May 31, 2025
The call for courage
with Asaf Ben-Shahar & Kristin Verellen
At any given time, something is called in us to show up, to be present in a different way, to show courage and engage not only in what we want, but also in what our soul longs for and invites us to. This call can be exciting and frightening, or sometimes very simple and humble. By all means it is there, waiting for us, to be and not to be. Living up to our call is a process of surrender, alignment, detachment from old identification and transformation beyond polarities. It implies deeply awakening inwardly as outwardly. It guides us on the wild-at- heart journey of facing and befriending our shadows as well as our light. Having the courage to fully respond to our call could be life changing; it is a radical choice for opening up to the soulful cycle of life and death, of joy and loss as it unfolds through us. To be courageous is to stay close to the way we are made and to stand strong for what we came for.
Program
This masterclass To be and not to be – the call for courage is for those who yearn for inner liberation in service of a more human world, and even more for those who yearn for and fear it at the same time. It will be a time for freely exploring altered states of consciousness inspired by embodied energy & soul work imbued by shamanism, kabbalah and systemic wisdom. Using our mind, heart, body and soul to reconnect to the flow of life, reinjecting meaning and joy throughout our existence.
- Day One: The courage to be – showing up
The first day will be an intimate deep dive into the well of our courage. This will nourish us to become more aware, attuned and aligned in an embodied way with our life calling. The soul-print we bring on earth, we leave on our path, whether we want it or not. Our capacity to be present to and show up for our life calling, even when it demands of us to make big choices or shifts in our lives. - Day Two: The courage not to be – surrendering our ego
The second day will be a practice of surrendering our ego to a bigger self, one that includes us but is not limited to us. The opening up is first and foremost surrender to our soul and shifting our perspective from that of a personal self, to a more transcendent self. A way of being where the useless old ego structures transform in a deeper and wider sense and belonging. A way of choosing in which we can trust the wisdom of our heart. - Day Three: the courage to be and not to be – genesis
The third day will build further on and integrate the first two days – how can we live meaningfully, both in the here and now of our community, earth and life challenges. Where do we most need courage to counterbalance our fear. We will cocreate purpose and commitment and so that our short passage on earth will be a contribution and inspiration for more joy, love and togetherness in the small and bigger circles around us.
Approach
Bringing together shamanism, Kabbala, systemic constellation, relational body psychotherapy and dance in creative ways, we will practice for transforming ourselves and others in relationship. Within a theoretical framework we will explore, share and learn in practical exercises of altered states of consciousness and in body-mind-soul experiences. A variation of interactive learning forms in groups, pairs, solo and demonstration. Music and movement whenever we relax and integrate. A spirit of serious play all through.
For whom
For all people working with people, as a coach, group facilitator, leader, manager, teacher, therapist, social worker, body worker, healer, artist…who want to strengthen their presence and service in the world by unfolding and expressing the forces in themselves. We warmly welcome diversity in our group. So whatever background, gender, age you are, if this message appeals to you, feel free to join.
Trainer
Asaf Rolef Ben Shahar is an explorer of relationships, bodies and states of consciousness. He has integrated and taught embodied and relational psychotherapy and shamanic practices worldwide for over 25 years, and has written five books and numerous papers on this subject. For three years, Asaf has completely dedicated himself to writing a series of fantasy fiction for young and old, with the aim of reaching a wider group of change-makers for a better world. The only workshops for healing change Asaf still offers are the ones hosted by Kristin Verellen in Belgium. Since 2 years he contributes also as special guest in the How do we human Circles by We have the choice, deepening the ritual power of the circle with experiential meditations. Asaf is vegan and a nature lover. He is a father to two teenage daughters, married to Maya and lives and works in the northern town of Tivon in Israel. Fascinated by neuro-divergence he discovered his own autistic nature. He is gifted in finding magic everywhere.
Host and co-facilitator
Kristin Verellen – initiator of Peel The Onion and of the We have the choice circles – is a facilitator of connection and transformation for individuals, teams, organizations and stakeholder fields. She has initiated the first relational field workshop by Asaf Ben-Shahar in Belgium in 2011. Because of the immediate success of this groundbreaking workshop, she has turned it into a ritual to gather each year with Asaf groups of open-minded people for a transforming relational encounter. Upgrading group encounters into precious safe spaces of deep learning, heart connection, co-creation and transformation is one of her passions. She is a passionate and experienced psychotherapist, systemic constellator, organizational coach, spiritual entrepreneur and poet. In her last book Meer dan ik, she opens up the world of her poetry with her ink paintings and verses of the ancient Upanishads. Exploring the interconnection of all. The voluntary movement Circles- We have the choice she initiated makes this experience of interconnection beyond fear and polarization accessible where and when it is mostly needed.
Practical
- When: The masterclass To be and not to be takes place on 29 – 30 – 31 May 2025 (from Thursday till Saturday) in De Heerlijckyt van Elsmeren. There we have a large and comfortable seminar space in a castle, surrounded by 30 ha of peaceful nature
- Timing : 1rd day: arrival at 9.00, start 9.30 – 18.00. 2nd and 3rd day: 9.00 – 17.30
- Spoken language: during the training is English. We will translate when needed.
The workshop fee
The workshop fee for a 3 days masterclass is 960 € excl. vat (incl. 1.162 € incl. vat). This price includes workshop rooms, organisation, creation, facilitation and costs.
Below, you find all info about how to subscribe. Principle is: first in first served.
The fee for accommodation (room & meals)
As for the accommodation fee (room & meals) at the Heerlijckyt of Elsmeren count on a package cost (vat included) of 340 € for 2 nights in a shared 3 to 4 persons room, delicious breakfasts, lunches, vegetarian dinner with dessert and drinks (supplement for meat with dinner costs 8 €).
The package cost for a shared 2 persons room (for 2 participants), is 382 €, for a 1 person room 410 €. When you sleep home or in a tent the price is 280 €. Those who want, could also sleep home. You book your room with link below, right after your subscription. The rooms are distributed based on availability.
Contact & subscribe
To subscribe and secure your participation in the masterclass ‘To be and not to’:
- mail to kristin@peeltheonion.com the subscription form with your name and address for the invoice.
- You receive the invoice soon after your subscription: 50% of the amount to be paid within 14 calendar days and the remaining 50% 4 months before the masterclass. Registration is official at the reception of the first amount. If it is more convenient to pay in one go, you can.
- Unforeseen circumstances which could make it impossible to come, sometimes can’t be completely prevented. It would be easy not to think about it, but we prefer to talk about it in the same spirit of openness, respect, trust, solidarity as in the masterclass. In case you have to cancel:
- When you find a new participant who replaces you: no worry at all, you get a refund less 150 € for costs.
- When you don’t find a new participant who replaces you:
- Cancellation before 31/1/25: refund less 250 € costs
- Cancellation as from 31/1/25 and before 29/03/25: refund less 400 € costs o Cancellation as from 29/03/25: no refund
The cancellation costs you pay will be well used to develop the ‘Donations from the heart‘ fund. This fund to which everybody can contribute enables us to cover unforeseen costs and to offer occasionally a social price for aspirants who can’t afford.
So if the only obstacle for coming is money, please talk to us. Depending on the number of participants and on the money we all have saved in the fund ‘Donations from the heart’, we may be able to offer a social price. This will be clear in the last month before the masterclass.
Asaf and I have the firm commitment for the masterclass to take place! We invest in a flight ticket which guarantees to fly in the actual war context. In the unlikely case of complete flight stop, we are ready to offer a solution with a hybrid version of the 3 days masterclass: we will gather at the Heerlijckyt and Asaf will join us online for the complete masterclass, for big group gathering and exchange in small groups. Kristin will take care of hosting an open space on location in a participative manner to which every participant can contribute. We did it before, it was a great experience, a chance to show up and step in our leadership within a very supportive community. It is a great way to enjoy how the force of the community field we are building and deepening together since more than a decade has become a real force which allows us to tap in our full potential as individual and group whatever the form in which we meet. If we must go hybrid, you will get priority for the subscription in a masterclass of the following year.
To secure your accommodation (room & meals), for the masterclass of 29 – 30 – 31 May 2025, you book and pay directly at the Heerlijckyt van Elsmeren on the following link:
Secure your stayPlease do this right after your subscription to the masterclass, as the rooms are assigned based on availability. You will only have to pay at reception of the invoice 4 months before the masterclass. Cancellation is possible without cost till 11 working days before the masterclass! Later you still can avoid costs by sending someone else in your place. More info in the link above.